Unemployment rate rises slightly to 8.1% in SD County

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The unemployment rate in San Diego County rose to 8.1% in January, a slight increase from December's 8% and well above the 3.4% rate from a year ago, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures released today by the state Employment Development Department.

This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 9.2% for California and 6.8% for the nation during the same period.

But the numbers may not show the whole picture, jobs experts warn.

"December's jobless rate was only able to remain stable because people dropped out of the workforce,'' said Lynn Reaser, chief...